The visitors resumed at 12-1 in their second innings, requiring a further 154 just to make Glamorgan bat again.

Despite Hamish Marshall (22), Alex Gidman (34) and James Franklin (28) all making starts, Gloucestershire lost wickets regularly to be all out for 162 with 25 overs left in the day.

Left-arm spinner Dean Cosker (3-32) and off-spinner Robert Croft (2-51) did most of the damage, while Jon Lewis was left high and dry on 37 not out.

Glamorgan have now won three in a row and hold a seven-point lead over Sussex at the head of the lower tier, albeit having played a game more.

Day three

Ben Wright hit a career-best 172 and James Allenby reached his first century as Glamorgan assumed a strong position against Gloucestershire in Cardiff on Wednesday.

Responding to the visitors' 417 all out, Glamorgan made 583 for nine declared before ending day three by reducing the visitors' second innings to 12 for one.

With the home side starting the day on 257 for three, Wright dominated a fourth-wicket partnership of 157 with Michael Powell (37) as he moved from 77 not out to surpass his previous best of 108.

Wright then upped the pace - his third 50 coming up in only 49 balls - but an innings which included 23 fours and three sixes was ended when he edged a lifting Jon Lewis ball behind.

Allenby and veteran Robert Croft then shared a record seventh-wicket stand for Glamorgan against Gloucestershire of 153 in 39 overs - the former's landmark innings including eight fours and a six.

He eventually holed out to deep backward square off Anthony Ireland (five for 114), with Dean Cosker getting a vital breakthrough for Glamorgan by bowling Chris Dent with the final ball.

Day two

Ben Wright and captain Jamie Dalrymple cracked half-centuries as Glamorgan made inroads into Gloucestershire's competitive first innings total on the second day at Cardiff.

Gloucestershire were bowled out for 417 in their first innings with five players passing 50, before Glamorgan reached 257 for three by the close - 160 behind - with Wright 77 not out.

At the start of the day Chris Taylor and Stephen Snell made serene progress after Gloucestershire resumed their first innings on 303 for five.

Taylor reached his half century from 118 balls and Snell went to the landmark rather quicker from 89 deliveries. And it took a change of bowling to break up the partnership which was worth 120 in 35 overs.

Jim Allenby struck with his second ball to have Taylor trapped in front and three overs later, after Gloucestershire had registered a fourth batting point, he dismissed Snell, who was caught behind attempting to cut.

Glamorgan did not hang about in their reply with Mark Cosgrove clubbing 34 from only 33 balls. Gareth Rees, who was dropped on 27 by Snell at second slip off Stephen Ireland, and Dalrymple guided Glamorgan to tea at 111 for one.

But shortly after the interval Glamorgan lost Rees, who was bowled by Ireland via a glove as Glamorgan reached 125 for two.

When Wright came to the wicket Dalrymple was on 41, but the 22-year-old proceeded to outscore his captain contributing 50, from 68 balls, to a third-wicket partnership of 78.

That partnership was broken when Dalrymple was neatly stumped by Jon Batty after the batsman had charged down the track to a Vikram Banerjee delivery.

Day one

Alex Gidman and James Franklin both fell just short of centuries as Gloucestershire made 303 for five on the opening day against Glamorgan.

The duo shared a fourth-wicket stand of 155 that rescued their side from the precarious position of 27 for three at the Swalec Stadium.

Having decided to bat first after winning the toss, the visitors lost openers Jonathan Batty and Chris Dent early, both for six. Hamish Marshall then became the third lbw victim - and the second for seamer Huw Waters - for one.

However Glamorgan's bowlers had to wait more than 48 overs for another breakthrough, Gidman eventually falling leg before for 97 to James Allenby.

Franklin also failed to get through to three figures, the New Zealand all-rounder edging spinner Dean Cosker through to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace when on 95 having hit two sixes and 10 fours.

Chris Taylor, who finished up unbeaten on 45, and Stephen Snell (43 not out) shared an unbroken stand of 79 to see Gloucestershire through to the close without any further losses.